Oklahoma City University School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
At Oklahoma City University School of Law, we introduce students to an educational philosophy that purposefully and carefully blends the theory with the practice of law in all of its forms to develop accomplished and creative problem-solvers. Founded at statehood in 1907, the School of Law has a long and rich tradition of service, leadership, and innovation. The School of Law is located in a historic and iconic building in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. Students are “in the middle of the action” in a vibrant, thriving city in a facility with state-of-the-art technology. Steps from some of Oklahoma’s largest law firms, corporations, banks, city and state government agencies, and state and federal courts, and less than a mile from the state capitol complex, our location enables students to gain valuable experience before graduation and begin making a meaningful contribution to the community. Our employment rate for our graduates is consistently at or above the national average.
Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, boasts a metropolitan population of over one million and has been named a top city for multiple industries. In the past 10 years, Oklahoma City has undergone a revitalization resulting in an NBA team, a new AAA baseball stadium, the establishment of Bricktown as a premier historic entertainment district, a new public library, creation of a new riverfront recreation area that is an international Olympic training venue, and increased investment in public spaces and public schools. It is considered an affordable and friendly place to live and work. An entrepreneurial spirit prevails and the city and state are filled with opportunity for our graduates.
The JD Program
Faculty
The faculty at Oklahoma City University School of Law is committed to the intellectual and professional growth of every student. Faculty members hold law degrees from a variety of law schools, including the nation’s most prestigious. Many faculty members also hold advanced degrees in law and other fields of study and have significant practice-based experience. First Amendment law, firearms and Second Amendment law, tax law and policy, patent law and wills and estates are just a few of the areas of focus for our faculty.
Library and Physical Facilities
The School of Law is located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City, in a building constructed in 1910 to be the city’s grand first high school by the same architect who designed the Oklahoma State Capitol. The building features iconic art deco details from its origins with state-of-the-art technology, classrooms, study spaces, courtroom, dining facilities, and public areas. The building has played an important role in the life of the city for decades and, because of this, well represents the School of Law’s tradition of more than a century of service and leadership in the community. The School’s Chickasaw Nation Law Library is available to students 24/7 and offers 519,000 titles including 450 digital study aids. Students develop research skills through regular and advanced legal research classes and by enrolling in the Norick Municipal Law Research Clinic and other courses and trainings taught by the library’s lawyer librarians.
Scheduling Options
We offer a full-time and part-time JD program. Our part-time program is available with day classes within the full-time schedule, which enables many students to complete their law degree while working full time. By attending summer sessions, full-time students may complete their degree requirements (90 semester hours) in as little as two-and-a-half years and part-time students in three-and-a-half years. A summer start in late May is offered for those students who want a “jump start” on their legal education.
Student Services
Oklahoma City University School of Law actively provides law students with opportunities to be engaged with the larger legal community. Guest speakers, programs, and activities provide students with exposure to local, state, and national leaders, as well as scholars and legal professionals.
The entire staff at the law school is committed to assisting law students. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who is available to counsel a student on course selection, employment opportunities, and other matters. Financial aid advisors provide loan and debt-management counseling. The technology departments assist students with their computing needs. An accessible and professional library staff, which includes librarians with JD degrees, aids students in the development of important research skills and offers unique courses and programs for specialized research training.
Curriculum
The School of Law offers three joint and paired JD/Master’s programs: the JD/Master’s in Business Administration, the JD/Master’s in Applied Sociology and Nonprofit Leadership, and the JD/Master’s in Public Administration. Specialized certificate programs are offered in public law, energy law, American Indian law, and wills and estate planning. The curriculum for every Oklahoma City University School of Law student is designed to provide a well-grounded foundation in the basic doctrines, functions, and ethical principles that underlie law and legal practice. The curriculum includes a significant experiential component as well as more theoretical coursework, and is designed to produce graduates who are effective problem-solvers and leaders in law, business, government, and civic life. Students learn and work in the legal and governmental center of a, vibrant city filled with opportunity and a high quality of life.
Special Programs
Oklahoma City University School of Law has created close to 100 externship opportunities at courts, governmental agencies, corporate counsel offices, and nonprofit organizations, where academic credit is earned in a variety of practice placement sites under the supervision of field supervisors and a full-time faculty member. In Oklahoma, students who have successfully completed half the course hours for a JD as required by the American Bar Association are eligible for a limited license to practice law that allows them to appear in court under certain circumstances.
The School of Law houses four clinics that allow students to represent real clients under the supervision of a faculty member: the state’s first and only Innocence Clinic, in which students work cases of inmates who have viable claims of wrongful conviction; the American Indian Wills Clinic, in which students assist tribal members around the state with basic estate-planning documents; the Bail and Bond Clinic, in which students represent clients at the earliest stage of criminal proceedings; and the Norick Municipal Law Research Clinic, in which students work with city attorneys on a variety of legal issues facing the city.
The School of Law launched the Center for Criminal Justice to address the need for reform, in Oklahoma county and statewide. The Center was founded in partnership with Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office and the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council. The vision for the Center for Criminal Justice is to create local solutions to a local problem with national implications. The Center for Criminal Justice works to train our future judges, district attorneys, public defenders, and defense attorneys, as well as the state’s future policymakers and servant leaders. The Judge Alfred P. Murrah Center for Homeland Security Law and Policy is located in the School of Law. The center examines the unique legal issues central to protecting and securing our nation, with a focus on the prevention of domestic terrorism.
Oklahoma City University School of Law cosponsors summer international programs in Granada, Spain; and The Hague, the Netherlands. The School of Law offers JD/MBA, JD/MA in Nonprofit Leadership and, a JD/MPA degrees. The School of Law has 3+3 programs with its undergraduate institution, East Central University and Oklahoma State University.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$30,885.00
|
| Fees |
$5,615.00
|
Scholarships
Each year, Oklahoma City University School of Law awards over $1.5 million in scholarships. All applicants are evaluated for our generous scholarships ranging from $4,000 to full tuition and fees. Additional scholarship assistance is offered to returning upper-division students based on academic performance.
The Sumners Foundation Scholarship is a full tuition and fees award that includes a book and living-expense stipend and the opportunity to join the prestigious network of current and former Sumners scholars. The Sumners Foundation Scholarships are competitive and awarded based on academic and leadership potential demonstrated in the scholarship application and during an on-campus interview. Applications for the Sumners Foundation Scholarships are due March 15.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Oklahoma City University School of Law seeks serious, motivated students who will make a sustained commitment to an engaged life and to the values and ethics of the legal profession. Many factors are considered in the evaluation of applications. We look for evidence of analytical and critical thinking, as well as reading, research, and writing skills that suggest the applicant is prepared for law school. Additionally, we consider factors such as work and life experience, cultural and economic background, advanced degrees, and extracurricular and community activities.
Oklahoma City University School of Law uses a rolling admission review process and will review applications until July 15 of each year. Applications received by February 15, with LSAT scores on record, will receive priority consideration for admission and scholarship assistance.
Admitted Applicant Profile
